Soul Carving

HAPPINESS IS. . . . . . feeling the smoothness of my baby's cheek next to mine and inhaling his sweet baby smell. If I close my eyes, I can almost believe he's still a newborn. . . . soaking up the warmth of the sun's rays into my Winter-weary skin. If I sit long enough in this pool of light that pours in through the windows, I feel like I'm floating - I'm ascending, getting nearer and nearer to the sun until I start glowing. I become light . . . . suggesting math practice without evoking the tsunami of rage and injustice. "Wait, did you just say, 'Okay'? You mean I can come out from the bomb shelter now and I won't find any debris to clear up?" . . . taking a deep, steadying breath when my little one needs to tell me "one last thing" (for the 3rd time) before they go to sleep. Then the reward for my calm response: a heart-felt, wide-eyed expression of love and gratitude -- "Mama,...

    The first month of a new year is past.     2014 started off with a bang for me. I love beginnings. I love the clarity and and anticipation involved in mapping out your dreams. I was looking forward to some exciting topics of focus for our homeschool, some intellectual growth with a college statistics class I've enrolled in, and more consistency with a "date night" for me and Richard. I was both excited and concerned after Christmas when Richard told me the Bishop would like to meet with me.      In my church, the leader of the congregation (our Bishop) is the one responsible to extend certain assignments to members. We refer to them as "callings" since he makes the decisions prayerfully, seeking inspiration from the Lord to know who should do what within the ward (or congregation). I'd already been serving as a teacher for a class of children, aged 4-5 years old and was eagerly anticipating the changes of a new year which would place my n...

     Each Monday night, our family holds a special meeting known as Family Home Evening. It's a weekly opportunity to teach our children important values and strengthen family relationships. The children always look forward to it and are often given assignments to help with certain portions of the program, such as offering a prayer, giving a lesson, or providing a treat. This time however, I prepared everything myself as a surprise.       We've enjoyed watching a bit of the Olympic Games in Sochi. Growing up, none of my family was what I'd call super athletic, and we definitely didn't follow any professional sports. But I do remember watching the figure skating competition when Tara Lipinski won gold. So I was excited to introduce this event to the kids. My oldest daughter and I cuddled together on the couch one evening, oohing and ahhing at the expressive grace of these ice dancers. So, I thought we'd draw some spiritual parallels from this potenti...

     We'd had a rough morning. I was regretting our decision of the previous evening to allow the two oldest children to stay up late watching a holiday movie. Our hopes of getting to church on time were deteriorating fast in the face of mounting hysteria. Welcome, welcome, Sabbath morning.      Miraculously, my patience remained intact. Everyone else went ahead while I stayed with the straggler. But even though we were running late, I had to dodge back inside for the camera when I saw what the Winter Fairies had been up to during the night. A wonderland of breathtakingly intricate beauty lay spread out before us.  Remember the heavenly love-note I found at the park? Here's another one! Amazing how something so icy cold can warm your heart.           Whether it's the uncommonly cold winter temperatures that are sweeping the nation, or a personal gloomy chill that's se...

WHITE by Bethany Campbell White is new and clean.  A fresh canvas,  still and hopeful,  awaiting the brushstrokes  of memory and inspiration  to provide color and meaning. White is the color of anticipation,  of whispered plans and secret surprises. Imagination suspended in time; gradually shifting, taking shape  beneath a shimmering blanket of dreams.  White is empty, motionless, quiet. The culmination of preparation and labor not completed yet,  but forming steadily, silently, diligently. White is open, boundless,  eternal. Brimming with possibilities, with endless potential. White is calm.  White is content. White is a promise, awaiting fulfillment. But white is fleeting, enveloping the world for only a brief moment.  White is a sign, a flag, Not of surrender, but of peace.  The herald of new life,...

     My earliest Christmas memories growing up involved a squat artificial tree, decked with handmade hearts and reindeer. But as I grew, so did the tree. Eventually, it morphed into 2 stunning trees, draped with ribbon garlands and vintage ornaments, glowing with soft white lights. One with dusty, mauve tones and golden trimmings, stood beside the piano in the living room. Another, still gold but with deep burgundy and forest green hues graced the family room. My mother never cared for silver. "It's too cold," she'd shiver. Basking in the warm radiance of the Christmas tree was my favorite way to spend wintry December evenings. Some guests thought it strange to visit for Thanksgiving and see our tree in all its splendor already sprouted from the living room floor. They'd have been more surprised several years later if they'd seen the family room of the new house we moved into. By that time we'd purchased the seco...

. . . here it comes!           First snowfall of the season.      Chilly days make for warm memories.